From Support to Satyagraha: The Transformative Impact of Boer War on Gandhi and the Indian Freedom Struggle.

The article focuses on the transformative impact of the Second Anglo–Boer War (1899–1902) on Mahatma Gandhi's political thought and activism, particularly his evolving views on British imperialism and the development of Satyagraha, a non-violent form of protest. Initially supporting the British by organizing the Indian Ambulance Corps to demonstrate Indian loyalty, Gandhi became disillusioned after the war due to the enactment of racist legislation against Indians in South Africa, revealing the entrenched racial discrimination within the British Empire. This experience reshaped Gandhi's understanding of colonialism, citizenship, and leadership, laying the groundwork for his later leadership in the Indian independence movement. The article also highlights the differing responses to the war among Indians in South Africa and India, noting that while South African Indians sought recognition as loyal British subjects, many in India viewed the conflict as exposing British vulnerability and hypocrisy.